Electric switch



Aug. 17 1926.

c. H. JOCKMUS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 4, 1924 Lil Mahatma. an.

Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. JOCKMUS, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed February 4, 1924. Serial N'o. 690,605.

This invention relates to pull-chain switches of the type particularly adapted to be used in connection with electric lamp sockets.

With pull-chain switches of the type to which my invention pertains considerable difiiculty has been experienced in that excessive arcing has been caused between the stationary and movable contacts upon movement of the movable contact out of electrical engagement with the stationary contact.

An'important object of my invention is to provide in a device of the character mentioned a means whereby such arcing is eliminated thus prolonging the life of the contact elements by reason of the fact that the objectionable burning out or fusing of the same is thereby overcome.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the character mentioned an improved means for limiting the relative movement of said contacts u on establishing electrical connection t erebetween. p

Other objects and certain advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin whichn I Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the switch mechanism showing the contacts in electrical engagement with each other.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, the contacts being shown as out of electrical engagement with each other.

Figure i is a perspective view showing complementary contact members comprising a stationary contact.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown what I at present consider the preferred form of my invention, the numeral 5 indicates a base formed of a nonconducting material such as porcelain or the like and carrying a switch actuating mechanism indicated as a whole by the numeral 6, which mechanism is adapted to be actuated through the instrumentality of the conventional type of pull-chain 7. The switch mechanism 6 in its operation facilitates or effects oscillation of a switch block 8 about its vertical axis 9. This switch block is formed from insulating material and carries a movable contact in the form of an arm 10 provided at its free end with a contact finger 11. The finger 11 is adapted to cooperate with a stationary contact carried by the base 5 and indicated as a whole by the numeral 12. This stationary contact is suitably anchored to a terminal 13 to which, in accordance with usual practice, is adapted to be connected the bared end of a conductor, not shown. The terminal 13 is formed from a blank of suitable gauge metal which is bent to provide a vertical portion 1 1 and a foot 15, and is held in position upon the base 5 by means of a screw 16 passed upwardly through the base 5 and maintained in screw threaded engagement with the foot 15 as shown in Figure 3.

The stationary contact 12 comprises upper and lower contact members 17 and 18, respectively, provided with openings 19 and 19' through which the screw 16 is adapted to pass. The upper contact member 17 is in the form of a relatively flat strip, the contact end of which is bent slightly out of the plane of the main portion of the strip as shown at 20 and is flared at its end thus providing a curved flange 21. The lower contact member 18 upon which the upper contact 17 is adapted todirectly rest is, at one end, struck up to provide a tongue 22 adapted to enter an opening 23 formed in the end of the contact member 17, whereas the other end of the contact member 18 is provided with an upstanding flange 24. This flange is adapted to engage the outer face of the vertical portion 14 of the terminal 13 by reason of which engagement the lower contact 18 is reinforced against displacement, it being further held against displacement by means of the screw 16 passed through the opening 19'. The upper contact member 17 is held against displacement with respect to the lower contact member through the instrui'nentality of the screw 16 passed through the opening 19. The upper contact member 17 is he] d against displacement with respect to the lower contact member through the instrumentality of the screw 16 passed through the opening 19 and is further held against such displacement by reason of the fact that the contact member adjacent the opening 19 is so shaped as to conform with and intimately engage the upstanding flange 24. By bending the end of the contact member 17 .out of the plane of the main portion thereof a sufficient clearance, as shown at 25, is provided to permit the free end of the arm 11 to enter between the contact members 17 and 18 and.

form an intimate electrical engagement therewith, the continued movement of the arm 11 upon making contact with the stationary contact 12 being limited by the tongue 22 strucl: up from the contact member 18 and entering the opening In order to smother or eliminate the here to'tore objectionable arcing upon movement of the arm 11 out of engagement with the stationary contact 12, I have provided the latter with a strip of insulating material 27 such as fiber or the like one end of which is confined between the contact 12 and the toot 15 whereas the opposite end of the strip overlies the contact end of the stationary contact. This strip is held in position upon the contact 12 by the screw 16 passed through an opening formed therein, and is further retaind against displacementby reason of the fact that its confined end is so cutas to conform with and intimately engage the fiange ii of the contact member 18. The strip 21' and the base form inei of insulating material which hold together the two members forming the fired contact and which overlie the ends of these members.

Yfhile- I have shown and de cribet. what I at present consider the prei ired of my invention itis to be understood that certain changes as to size, arrangement and proportion of elements may be without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An electric switch comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, said ixed contact comprising two member", one of which is momble in respect to the other to permit said movable contact to be received therebetwe-en, and a member of insulating material holding together the men'lbers :t'orming said fixed contact and owrlying the end of said fixed contact at the point where said movable contact is received between said members forming the fixed contact.

2. in electric switch comprising a base of insulating material, a fixed contact and a movable contact mounted on said base, said fixed contact comprisinga member resting on said base and another member so, ported above said first member and movable in respect thereto to permit said movable contact to be received between said members, and a member of insulating material disposed above said top member of said fixed contact and overlying the ends of the 1nem- 'bers forming the fixed contact.

3. An electric switch comprising a base of insulating material, a fixed contact and a movable contact mounted on said base, said fined contact comprising a member resting on said base and another member supported above said first member and movable in respect thereto to permit said movable contact to be received between said members, and a member of insulating material disposed above said top member of said fixed contact and overlying the ends of the members forming the fixed contact, said member of insuh ing material coacting w-ith'said base to hold together said members forming the fixed contact.

-l-. An electric switch comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, said fixed contact comprising two members, one of which is movable in respect to the other to permit said movable contact to be received therebetween and m mbers of insulating material holding together the members forming said fixed contact and overlying the end of 'd fixed contact at the point where said mo able contactis received between said members forming the fixed contact.

5. An electric switch comprising a base of insulating material, a fixed contact and a movable contact mounted on said base, said fixed contact comprising a member resting on said base and provided with'an upstanding flange and a n'iovable member supported on said first member, whereby said movable contact may be received between said members, a member of insulating material supported above said fixed contact and cooperating with said base to hold the members of said contact together, a terminal having a foot engaging said member of insulating material and having a vertical portion contacting with said upstanding fiange and fastening means .tor securing said parts in position.

In testimony whereof, I have attixed my signature to this specification.

CHARLES H. JOCKMUS. 

